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WATER POLITICS

Several articles on South Africa’s water challenge.  The first, via Business Day, offers some commentary on South Africa problems:

ON FEBRUARY 7 and 8, maintenance was scheduled on the Eikenhof Pump Station, one of Rand Water’s satellite booster pumping stations for water extracted from the Vaal Dam, which forms part of the Johannesburg water network. This never happened.

“Logistical issues” were being addressed, said Johannesburg Water spokeswoman Eleanor Mavimbela.

I do not think that I’m alone in thinking that we’ve seen this all before. We are reminded daily of the sorry state of Eskom’s power grid (due mainly to lack of infrastructure maintenance) and we have come to the undeniable realisation that load shedding is no longer a one-off event but sadly has to be accepted, for the foreseeable future at least, as a way of life in SA.

While we worry about the current energy crisis, an even larger crisis on our horizon is the water crisis — and I am not eager to watch Nero fiddle while Rome burns. While I may be unfairly making a scapegoat of Ms Mavimbela and Johannesburg Water in this instance, I do not think that her explanation is acceptable.

The current power generation crisis is unquestionably crippling the economy, and substantial energy and attention need to be focused on this issue. But this should not distract us from the fact that our water supply is equally threatened and the forecast shortages of water could have unparalleled adverse consequences for our economic growth, social justice and ecological integrity.

The 2014 Global Risk Report conducted by the World Economic Forum rated “water crises” as the third-most significant global risk, two places above that of the “failure of climate change mitigation adaption”. This is a significant statement, especially when the vast majority of the South African population are not aware of the current state of water services in our country.

By 2030, it is estimated that water usage will have grown to 2.7-billion cubic metres, leaving a 17% gap in supply and demand. Taking into account the current projected population growth and economic development rates, it is unlikely that meeting the projected demand for water resources in SA will be sustainable.

Adding to the problem of increased demand for water is the fact that through predominantly anthropogenic activities, the supply of water is decreasing.

These statistics should be alarming to many. Water is not only crucial for food production and domestic use; it is an integral element of the industrial, mining and power generation sectors, which use about 10% of SA’s freshwater. These sectors combined contribute about 40% to the total gross domestic product for SA, which brings me back to the point of even more severe economic constraints if the water “problem” is not addressed as a matter of urgency.

Historically, SA had invested heavily in water infrastructure, but little was done to maintain it (a similar situation we find ourselves in with the power generation industry). Consequently, much water is lost through leaking pipes, inefficient irrigation due to disrepair, and crumbling canal systems that have long since reached the end of their life span.

Over and above the failing existing bulk infrastructure, excessive and irresponsible water use behaviour plays a major role in the effect it has on water resource quality and quantity.

…

THE decline of water quality due to urban and industrial effluent discharge into river systems, poorly maintained wastewater treatment works, salinity from irrigation return flows, acid mine drainage and inadequate sanitation facilities poses yet another water challenge for our nation.

A study released by the Department of Water and Sanitation in conjunction with the Water Research Commission estimates that 1.58-billion cubic metres of supplied water is unaccounted for each year. About 36.8% of SA’s water is nonrevenue water — which represents the level of water loss from urban supply schemes due to nonpayment of accounts (unbilled metered and unbilled unmetered), illegal offtake and loss and leakage from infrastructure.

A less spoken-about underlying factor is that of skills, qualifications and unfilled posts in key strategic and technical positions. There is a serious and chronic shortage of municipal engineers and a high management turnover, with 25% of management posts staying vacant for more than three months.

Civil engineering professional capacity is also at a record low in that there are three engineers per 100,000 people in SA. As a result, the low professional capacity adds to the inability of municipalities to operate and maintain infrastructure.

…

 IN ORDER to make rational choices with regard to sustainable development and to find out the true cost of water, one needs to define the strategic value of water. This value relates to dependencies upon water, and these vary greatly from community to industry to region and then again various aspects within these categories.

It is also important to place a value on ecosystem services — a complex and intricate process, very specific to an area. One particular challenge facing ecosystem valuation in SA is economic growth and social delivery.

SA is a developing country and thus it is possible for economic and social necessities to take precedence over conservation. However, the quality of life of humans is highly dependent on functioning systems, which in turn lead towards a healthy environment that supports meeting economic and social needs.

All is not doom and gloom, though; the Department of Water and Sanitation is revising the water pricing strategy, which promises to address social equity, ecological sustainability, financial sustainability and economic efficiency.

This, together with consumer awareness, private sector initiatives, governmental regulation and targeted investments are urgently needed to move SA towards sustainable water use.

This potential crisis needs to be addressed by all stakeholders, not only the government, in particular the Department of Water and Sanitation. Consumer behaviour towards water usage needs to change.

Water is a precious, finite resource and should be treated as such if we as a country are to secure our social, financial and ecological future.

The second, via Alex Heatherington’s blog, offers some more commentary:

While we worry about the current energy crisis, an even larger crisis on our horizon is the water crisis.

Fast Facts:

• The 2014 Global Risk Report conducted by the World Economic Forum rated “water crises” as the third-most significant global risk.

• The vast majority of the South African population are not aware of the current state of water services in our country.

• By 2030, it is estimated that water usage will have grown to 2.7-billion cubic metres, leaving a 17% gap in supply and demand.

• Adding to the problem of increased demand for water is the fact that through predominantly anthropogenic activities, the supply of water is decreasing.

• Water is not only crucial for food production and domestic use; it is an integral element of the industrial, mining and power generation sectors, which use about 10% of South Africa’s freshwater.

• These sectors combined contribute about 40% to the total gross domestic product for South Africa.

• Historically, South Africa had invested heavily in water infrastructure, but little was done to maintain it.

• Consequently, much water is lost through leaking pipes, inefficient irrigation due to disrepair, and crumbling canal systems.

• Excessive and irresponsible water use behaviour plays a major role in the effect it has on water resource quality and quantity.

• The decline of water quality due to urban and industrial effluent discharge into river systems, poorly maintained wastewater treatment works, salinity from irrigation return flows, acid mine drainage and inadequate sanitation facilities poses yet another water challenge for our nation.

• A study released by the Department of Water and Sanitation in conjunction with the Water Research Commission estimates that 1.58-billion cubic metres of supplied water is unaccounted for each year.

• A less spoken-about underlying factor is that of skills, qualifications and unfilled posts in key strategic and technical positions. There is a serious and chronic shortage of municipal engineers and a high management turnover, with 25% of management posts staying vacant for more than three months

• All is not doom and gloom, though; the Department of Water and Sanitation is revising the water pricing strategy, which promises to address social equity, ecological sustainability, financial sustainability and economic efficiency.
•  This, together with consumer awareness, private sector initiatives, governmental regulation and targeted investments are urgently needed to move South Africa towards sustainable water use.